What A Difference A Dollar Makes.

       There's a great article in the Washington Post this morning about why mobility in America is among the lowest of any rich nation. It explains that, for one thing, spending on education is so lopsided. Wealthier students have an average of $9000 per year spent on them, while poor students have an average of less than $1300 spent on their education. In America.
       Now I know that many people will claim this is untrue, but consider that most of K-12 educational spending comes from local real estate taxes. Poor neighborhoods are obviously taxed lower because of the lower value of the real estate. Of course if you feel this is 'only fair', then you must accept that poor children won't be getting the best schools or supplies or equipment and the best teachers likely won't be teaching them.
       Under those circumstances and coupled with less help from families struggling to survive, most of these children are destined to remain poor. So what's the point? The point is that if you don't like having all these people on the public doll, then start making sure the children of these people get a better start, improved educational opportunities, better funding for their schools.
       The suggestion that more money won't provide a better education is completely disproved by these statistics. The proof that more money does mean better education is right in front of our faces. Check out the alumnae of schools in upper class school districts and the average spent on those students, at school and at home, and what's spent on school districts in poor communities. Then check the success rates of those alumnae from the two different districts.
       Who cares? Both you and I should care. Both of us should demand that poorer schools are improved to the level of those provided by wealthy districts. Why? Because we really don't want anyone on welfare, whether for selfish reasons or equality. If every student had the same opportunities to learn, including improved home life through healthcare, nutrition, and access to learning advantages, there would be far fewer people on those food stamps so many people complain about.